How Crowded Is Santa Monica Mountains in September?
September is an average month at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, running about 0.9× the park's average month — roughly 8% of the year's visitors come in September. That puts it between the May peak and the December low. Overall our best-time score rates September as "Good" for a visit. You'll get about 12.2 hours of daylight to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
September is average at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (about 0.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is December.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is December. September sits at about 0.9× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025). Updated 2026-06-20.